"do not rent" database

[Michael Nathan]

Friends of the BP,

I would like to ask a simple question. Does anyone know of any database (or website) that allows a landlord to report a "bad tenants", i am not talking about credit agency. just a simple database that allows a landlord to report a tenant that caused damages or did not pay rent?

alternatively, is there a place where a landlord can query a database for such "bad tenants" again not talking about normal credit check or background check.

thanks!!

[Wesley W.]

Originally posted by @Michael Nathan:

Friends, good input! truly valid points.

BUT!

how do you vet any info on the internet? and specifically on social media?? tons of articles have been written regarding the liability of Facebook (for example) regarding the info on its website.

if a tenant does not pay rent for months and damages an apartment and leaves thousands of $$ in damages, there HAS to be a way to notify the public. The court is of little help in such situations since if tenant does not provide forwarding address, the court will not process a complaint. as a Landlord i am desperately searching for a way or a method outside of traditional credit bureaus to verify and screen such tenants.

I use social media to get an idea of the kind of person this applicant is.  Are they being honest about the number and type of pets that they have?  Are they on there spouting off about how they are screwing over their clueless landlord?  Are they lamenting over the fact they just got fired/evicted/arrested?  Do they have pictures of the last keg party they threw?  I don't need to the vet the info if it's their own account.

If a tenant damages a property upon vacating, the landlord can (and should) go and get a judgement against them and record the judgement with the county.  In many jurisdictions this will be part of a searchable online database.  It is not difficult to serve a deadbeat tenant; there are numerous tricks to get a tenant's new address (some discussed on BP) if you have done your due diligence upon on boarding and collected enough data on this person during that process. 

All these things should not be your barrier to doing your homework on someone you are turning over your asset to.  Don't be in a rush.  If something doesn't pass the sniff test, dig deeper.  Keep digging until you can allay your concerns or you find the skeletons.  This is your most important job as a landlord!  Do not hide behind excuses for a mistake you make.  Learn from it, and move on.  The expense you incur is your "tuition"; and modify your process in order to never, ever make the same mistake twice.